As the carriage rolled out of the town, William's gaze drifted towards the receding landscape, a tapestry of familiar fields and woodlands. His thoughts drifted back to the past, to a time of innocence and joy, to those childhood days when he was fifteen and Vanessa was twelve.
He could almost feel the warmth of the sun on his skin, hear the joyous laughter that had filled the air as he and Vanessa raced through the sprawling gardens of the Astoria mansion, their young legs chasing butterflies and weaving through fragrant flower beds. They were inseparable then, two souls bound by a shared love for adventure and an unyielding devotion to each other.
He remembered the carefree days, the laughter, the innocent joy that they shared, the way their bond felt unshakeable. Now, as he traveled away, leaving behind the world he had known, the weight of those memories, the stark contrast between those happy days and the darkness that had overtaken them, filled him with a profound sadness. He had lost his sister, or perhaps she had lost herself, and the thought left him with a heavy heart.
Those days... William murmured, his voice a low, melancholic whisper. "I miss you... Sister... The sister I used to know." A single tear rolled down his cheek, leaving a glistening trail against his skin. His words carried the weight of a profound loss, the grief of a bond broken, a love lost. He missed the Vanessa who had shared his childhood dreams, the Vanessa who had laughed with him beneath the sun-drenched sky of the Astoria gardens.
He missed the warmth, the innocence, the unwavering affection that had once defined their relationship. He knew she was gone, consumed by darkness, and the realization left a deep ache in his heart. The memory of her, of the sister he had loved, was all he had left.
Even in the midst of his sorrow, a flicker of memory, a whisper of warmth, reached him. It was as if Vanessa's voice, the sweet, playful tone he remembered from their childhood, echoed through his ears, a phantom echo of a past that could never be reclaimed. He could almost hear her laughter, feel her presence beside him, hear her say his name, her voice a melody that had once filled his heart with joy. But the memory was fleeting, a wisp of smoke dissolving into the air.
He knew it was just his mind, clinging to the last remnants of a bond that had been severed, a desperate attempt to hold onto a past that had vanished.
[ 11 years ago... ]
[ November 5 ]
The sun dappled through the branches of the ancient oak tree, casting a warm, dappled light on the scene. William sat beneath its shade, his eyes closed, a peaceful smile playing on his lips. He was lost in a reverie, a world of childhood memories, where the weight of the present was absent and the burdens of the future were unknown. Suddenly, a joyous shout pierced the stillness, breaking through the peaceful silence. "William!!" Vanessa came running towards him, her laughter echoing through the air, her face lit with a radiant smile. Her hair, a cascade of golden curls, bounced with her every step, and her eyes, bright and full of mischief, sparkled as she approached.
She was twelve, a vision of youthful energy and pure joy, and her sweet voice, filled with a playful excitement, reached William's ears, pulling him from his reverie. He opened his eyes and a smile spread across his face, mirroring her own, as he watched her run towards him, a vision of innocent happiness.
"Oh, Vanessa, is that a flower crown you made?" William asked, his voice filled with a gentle warmth and a smile that mirrored the sunshine streaming through the oak tree's branches. His eyes, wide with wonder, followed her every move, his gaze lingering on the delicate crown of wildflowers that adorned her head. "Is it for me?" he asked, his voice laced with a playful anticipation.
He knew, even at that young age, that Vanessa was a gifted artist, that she saw beauty in the simplest things, and that her creations, whether a flower crown or a drawing on a scrap of paper, were always imbued with a touch of magic.
"Yes, brother! Come on wear it!" She smiles as she puts the flower crown on him.
"Wow... you're really good," William exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he reached out to gently touch the flower crown. "I love you so much," he added, a sweet chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned forward to give her a hug.
He was still young, his feelings were raw and unfiltered, a pure expression of the affection he felt for his sister. He didn't know the world's cruelty yet, the darkness that could taint even the most beautiful things.
For now, all he knew was the joy of their bond, the comfort of her presence, and the simple truth of his love for her.